Schoolchildren Listen to Pudu and Yearn for China

(ClearWisdom.net) To people in the United States, the traditional Chinese culture remains a mystery and even holds an element of fantasy in their minds. Kids think of ancient splendid holy palaces, golden dragons, pagodas, and Tiananmen Square. Ancient figures such as emperors, warriors, and loyal court ladies spark the children's dreams.

After receiving a request, I went to my daughter's school on the last day of August to give an introduction to Chinese culture. There were another two American moms who cooperated with me. They prepared a common Chinese dish -- Fried noodles in a thick sauce, according to a popular recipe. I brought a cheongsam [a silk Chinese dress], a traditional Chinese men's jacket, and many other examples of the rich traditions of China such as books, paintings, calligraphy, music, tapes, a Mulan fan, health balls, etc. Our Chinese culture exhibition kicked off to the music of Pudu and Jishi.

The colorful Chinese style clothing hung in front of the podium. I taught the kids how to use chopsticks while they were eating the tasty noodles. Because the Chinese believe that the ten fingers have a close connection to the brain, from the time they are children, great emphasis is placed on using the fingers. Even senior citizens play with health balls, aiming to improve their brain functions through excising the fingers. I explained the difference between Chinese characters and alphabetical letters and discussed the evolution of the Chinese characters. The kids, their parents, and the teachers as well were all entranced by my descriptions. I showed the kids different versions of Chinese books, from complicated Chinese characters to simplified ones, from vertically typed ones to horizontal ones. I then demonstrated calligraphy. Calligraphy is a silent exercise and artistic enjoyment. The handwriting reveals both a person's character and his personality. From what I experienced from calligraphy, I talked about the inner character of the Chinese people. The Chinese emphasize inner cultivation and are not as good at external expressions. I used sports as an example. Westerners exercise by going to the gym, riding bicycles, and playing strenuous sports like volleyball, baseball, or football. But what about the Chinese? They have unique exercise forms, like Taiji Boxing, sword playing, fan dancing, and various Qigong exercises. All of these are performed in a peaceful and slow fashion.

Then I introduced Falun Gong to the kids. To the music of Pudu and Jishi, I sat in a lotus position on the floor and slowly demonstrated the "Strengthening Supernormal Powers" exercise. My arms floated gradually and softly to the rhythm of Pudu. At that point the classroom was so quiet that only the soft, moving music could be heard. I couldn't suppress my feelings and felt that I had delved into a kind of silent storytelling; that is, a calling for honesty and love from people. I seemed to see that their hearts were open to me and linked with mine. After I conjoined my hands and opened my eyes gently, I heard big applause from everyone in the classroom.

A boy walked up to my daughter and said, "You'll be invited to my birthday party. I hope I can get a gift -- a pair of health balls." A girl said to me with a dreamy expression, "I wish I could live in China." Another added, "So do I." The kids' interest in China had increased a lot. They surrounded me. I knew I had brought them into a "myth," the attraction of a foreign culture. I told them not every kid can realize his dreams, sometimes not even those simple rights that should belong to every human being, and that they were much luckier than their young Chinese friends. "Love your country more," I told them. Enjoy the essence of different cultures in this free country of yours.